March 31st was the Trans Day Of Visibility, and despite so much transphobic legislation being passed around the nation, there were a few lights in the darkness.
For example, Star Wars revealed that two of its Jedi, Terec and Ceret from the Marvel High Republic comic series, are trans non-binary Jedi.
A new cover featuring the two Jedi was unveiled on Instagram.
While for the most part, the news was met with accolades from adoring fans:
omg lucasfilm just gave us two trans non-binary jedi: terec and ceret! they look so amazing😍 https://t.co/pa5S14rMOq— zen⚔️ (@zen⚔️) 1617208767.0
damn i really was here on this “TDOV means imma VISIBLY stay in bed all day” but Terec and Ceret out here like “nah… https://t.co/x4bMWW1h0T— justice “ahsoka says ‘trans lives matter” schiappa (@justice “ahsoka says ‘trans lives matter” schiappa) 1617213229.0
Say Hello to Star Wars' Trans Jedi, Terec and Ceret https://t.co/LvtIolPhwg https://t.co/TKOUODuTn0— io9 (@io9) 1617227374.0
Unfortunately the ugly-natured Star Wars fans--presumably the same ones who bullied Kelly Marie Tran of The Last Jedi and The Rise Of Skywalker into quitting social media-came out to play when addressing Terec and Ceret's identities.
@sw_holocron I don't have the words for the nonsense I'm seeing right now. Smh this is NOT Star Wars...not even close— Gentlemen Abu Nas Prime👨🏾💼🔥🎶💵 (@Gentlemen Abu Nas Prime👨🏾💼🔥🎶💵) 1617215526.0
@sw_holocron Now this is just shoving in my face not catchin me reading this garbage anytime soon— Car-el (@Car-el) 1617211205.0
@sw_holocron https://t.co/6pwk5w5hE9— B (@B) 1617212812.0
@sw_holocron I can't believe the editor didn't shut this garbage down. What the hell is Marvel doing?— Mantis Toboggan (@Mantis Toboggan) 1617242504.0
@sw_holocron Totally disgusting— yes! God does play dice (@yes! God does play dice) 1617226832.0
The High Republic series contains several LGBTQ+ characters, including Lando Calrissian (who has been confirmed as pansexual,) Chelli Aphra, and Sana Starros.
Terec and Ceret are a race called Kotabi, "beings who share a gestalt mind that allows them to not just express emotions and thoughts together but finish each other's sentences."
Though technically not the first Star Wars characters to fall outside the gender binary, they are the first explicitly identified by the franchise as trans.
Of course they’re going to attack Lucasfilm & Star Wars for representing Non-binary characters in the LGBTQIA2S+ co… https://t.co/59lGViGyEt— Chase (@Chase) 1617236224.0
As someone who is part of the non-binary community, it is so fkn cool to see people like me in my favorite fictiona… https://t.co/DjJqpgv6ep— Anthony⁷⁺⁴ | 😭😍 (@Anthony⁷⁺⁴ | 😭😍) 1617221495.0
We're excited to see another Star Wars Pride variant cover get unveiled. We here at The Cosmic Force stand with all… https://t.co/X0Zg6pDwxO— The Cosmic Force Podcast (@The Cosmic Force Podcast) 1617211756.0
WE HAVE TRANS NON-BINARY JEDI NOW IM SOBBING https://t.co/5jNuTOwsHI— rain/rae. (@rain/rae.) 1617209008.0
This is good! But also: more please. And also more queer humans where their existences outside the gender binary ar… https://t.co/jUq7wm8Ljx— James Whitbrook (@James Whitbrook) 1617226489.0
Transphobia is all too present throughout the world at the moment, and the visibility of trans characters in major franchises such as Star Wars are the steps to normalizing trans people more and more in community spaces.
More representation will come soon, despite what the transphobes comment on social media.